Verheugen praises Poland for land concession, predicts early agreement

The European Union (EU) said yesterday its dispute with Poland over land sales to foreigners would probably be resolved this month. Praising Poland for its compromise proposal on land sales, EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said it was necessary to speed up negotiations on other issues, so as not to leave too many problems until the very end. Verheugen said EU member countries were pleased with Poland's concessions relating to EU farmers already leasing land in the country. According to a decision announced by the government Friday, farmers already leasing land in Poland will be able to buy it after three or seven years, depending on whether the land is in the Eastern or Western part of the country, with the period counted from the date the initial lease was signed, and not as previously demanded from the date of Poland's accession to the EU. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 8; Reuters) M.T.